The FA, England's Football Association, launched an enquiry into the claims on Sunday, while at least four UK police departments are investigating separate allegations.

An FA statement confirmed the governing body will work alongside the police to "ensure we do not do anything to interfere with or jeopardize the criminal process."

Lawyer Kate Gallafent will lead the FA's investigation, which is looking at what was known about the sexual abuse during the 1980s and 90s and what action was or should have been taken.

Ex-professional footballer Andy Woodward was the first player to go public with his story, recounting how we was abused by former coach Barry Bennell while playing for English side Crewe Alexandra during that period.

The club, based in Cheshire, has launched its own inquiry into the allegations.

It has emerged that Bennell, who was convicted of sexual abuse offenses in the US in 1994 and in the UK in 1998 and 2015, has been taken to hospital after what police called a “fear for welfare incident.”